About the Editor

Carlos da Silva Campos.

Professional journalist, with background on the economical press and Packaging Editor since 1982, heading independent magazines REVIPACK (packaging), REVIPLAST (plastics) and REVIPROJECT (automation).
Lawyer since 1984 and and Packaging Consultant since 1986, working for several industry associations related to packaging and recycling. Honorary Member of IPPO - the International Packaging Press Organisation. Served as Vice-President (1996-1999) and Chairman (1999-2002).

Digital print for packaging is worth $13.2 billion in 2017, and will climb to $23.2 billion in 2022, according to the latest research from Smithers Pira, The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2022 . The demand for inkjet and electrophotography print in packaging will see an 11.2% annual increase in value across the forecast period (2017-2022) and annual 15.4%growth in volume output (A4 sheets equivalent) – up from 163 billion A4 sheets (equivalent) in 2017 to 334 billion in 2022. This reflects the arrival of new higher throughput equipment. Penetration for digital print technology is not uniform – the labels sector is the early adopter and mature in some regions. Consequently future expansion will rest heavily on less-developed packaging formats principally, including corrugated board, folding cartons and flexible plastics. In 2017, the mainstream corrugated sector has a real appetite for high-volume inkjet liner and postprint systems, to provide new functions and gain plant efficiencies. Implementation is being led by some of the largest companies in the corrugated sector – as well as by more agile independents – leading to the arrival of new dedicated equipment that will enable volume production at a much more economical price. For more information on this report, please contact Julie Bostock.

Economic, lifestyle changes and the focus on sustainable packaging will drive market growth by 5.4% annually during the period 2016-21 to $44.8 billion, according to a new report by Smithers Pira. In "The Future of Labels and Release Liners to 2021" Smithers Pira’s analysis shows label market growth is being driven by economic, social, demographic and lifestyle changes, brand owners’ increasing focus on source reduction and sustainable packaging, consumer demand for convenience food, and the growing presence of large retail chains. Label market demand is also being driven by the relatively low cost with which labelling can be replaced or changed; and a continuing need for barcodes and other secondary packaging applications that support food safety and pharmaceutical compliance issues.

Drinks markets are dominating label consumption; alcoholic drinks are the main end-use market for labels, accounting for a projected 27.5% share of global label consumption in 2016. The alcoholic drinks market growth is supported by the booming hospitality and tourism industries in large cities, the influence of western culture on young people in emerging economies, and increasing disposable incomes among the growing middle class in Asia.

“The outlook for label market growth will be negatively influenced by an expectation of moderate global economic growth over the forecast period.” states Dan Rogers, head of publishing at Smithers Pira. “The emerging and developing economies are forecast to grow at twice the rate of advanced countries and offer the best opportunities for label market growth.”

The growing trend for sustainability in packaging and labelling means linerless labelling systems are gaining in popularity, because they eliminate the need for non-recyclable release liners, and the absence of backing material means that reel changes are quicker and easier. Linerless technology also provides full-colour, high-end graphics, together with the option to print on the back of the label for promotional, coupon and instructional applications. Linerless labels also eliminate waste and reduce cost associated with label production.

For more information about this report, click HERE or sent an email to Julie Bostock.

After a significant slowdown in the late 2000s, the global market for metal packaging has recovered its growth with the highest rates registered in Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In its new report, Smithers Pira estimates the market will grow by around 3% in 2016 to reach $106 million, driven mainly by increasing demand for metal packaging in emerging and transitional economies at a time when demand in more mature markets is likely remain flat. Going forward, the global market metal packaging is forecast to grow at an annual average rate of 4% to reach 128 million USD by 2021.

In terms of global trade, many developing countries such as China, India and Brazil have long been associated with significant manufacture and international exports, providing goods for the world, but not consuming them domestically. This is no longer the case.

Transparent barrier films are replacing traditional materials such as flexible foil for various applications due to consumer demand for packaging transparency, feasibility and use of metal detectors and microwave ovens. According to The Future of Transparent Barrier Films versus Barrier Foil to 2021 – a new report from Smithers Pira, global demand for transparent barrier films is forecast to grow at an annual average rate of 3.9% reaching 1.9 million tonnes in 2021. Apparent consumption of flexible aluminium foil packaging is expected to increase at an average annual rate of 2.5% per year reaching almost 3.0 million tonnes by 2021.

REVIPACK N.º 230 features a report about the new beer bottling plant of UNICER and its new automated warehouse. This major industrial investment includes technological solutions from KHS (bottling lines), warehouse automation (EFACEC) and drives (SEW-EURODRIVE). This edition is focused on logistics and intralogistics. Why wood pallets continue to be preferred? The answer lies in the combination of quality, price and sustainability, says Paulo Verdasca, manager of MADECA. CHEP highlights the economic and environmental advantages of collaborative transportation. However, there is also a market for plastic pallets, with specific solutions as those developed by NORTPALET and IPS-Cabka. Palletizing is more than just put the product on a pallet. This edition of REVIPACK also highlights strapping systems and stretch wrapping films. REMBALCOM has developed a new stretch film with stretching capacity of 400%. In the field of intralogistics, this issue highlights several conveying solutions. ANTÍPODA, for example, is doing more and more business within the European market with modular solutions customer designed. In this edition, REVIPACK also features several innovations and trends in food packaging, packaging machines and labeling and coding systems. The digital REVIPACK edition (PDF file) has been sent to Subscribers. To read it online just on the cover image.

The beverage packaging industry in North America is expected to reach $26.3 billion in 2015, with plastic bottles leading the way in popularity, according to "Beverage Packaging — An Industry Assessment," to be released by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. The study notes plastic continues to be the most widely used bottling material, accounting for over 40 percent of the market, and bottles, with approximately 55 percent of the market, are the most popular packaging format for beverages. Although they suffered from a drop in soft drink sales, aluminum cans are picking up steam as other beverage categories — such as energy drinks and microbrews — are more than making up for the lost volume. Flexible pouches have experienced the slowest growth, but many respondents still anticipate increased adoption of flexible beverage packaging down the road. Key to that, the report says, would be products geared to consumers accustomed to beverages, such as juice, in pouches. Regardless of format, nearly all the interviews conducted for the study identified packaging as the primary means for communicating brand values to consumers. The study also addresses key trends such as packaging size and dimension ratios, openings that offer a finer drinking experience, resealability for portion control, different pack sizes to meet specific market demands, and colors and graphics to cut through the clutter on store shelves. Additional details are given on trends, the supply chain, government regulation, concerns and additional needs of the industry. The full report is available free to PMMI members and $3,500 for non-members. To get the executive summary, click HERE. Beverage manufacturers, who need to bring these trends to life as they address their day-to-day challenges, will find what they’re looking for at PACK EXPO International, co-located with Pharma EXPO, (Nov. 2–5; McCormick Place, Chicago).

Blow moulded plastic bottles is a market of nearly 4.5 million tonnes magnitude in Europe. Beverages accounted for two-thirds of the market demand in units. The growth trends differ depending on both the drinks category and the geography, but the overriding trend within the beverages market in Europe is toward ‘healthier options’. The demand for blow moulded beverage bottles in Europe is fuelled by continued substitution of glass bottles, cartons and cans. Moreover, consumers tend to make more impulse purchases whist on-the-go, which drives additional demand. These are the main findings in a report published in April by AMI Consulting (Bristol, UK).